Today I want to share some ideas for being a more organized entrepreneur or small business owner.

Many of the articles I read about workplace organization are about how to succeed in company-wide goals. What about being an entrepreneur and working for yourself? What if you don’t have company-wide goals and you need to be setting goals for yourself and what you need to achieve? Here are some traits of organized people who use tools to help them manage responsibilities, accomplish more, and perform at higher levels. Whether you are an entrepreneur working from home, or a stay-at-home mom, good organization helps you effectively collaborate on projects and complete tasks by setting timelines.

Here are three tools that can help you be more organized:

1: Use Available Free Apps On Your Phone

Note-taking programs such as Notes on your iPhone are a great way to jot down quick ideas when you can’t find that ink pen that no one carries anymore. The Notes app can help organize to-do lists, project lists, scan documents, and you can sync up Notes across all your devices. I keep a running to-do list on my phone. My phone is with me all the time, so this makes it easy when I need to confirm information or if I’m out running errands, to make sure I don’t forget anything on my list. I’m often traveling to see family, so I keep a running list of travel items with everything I need to pack so I don’t forget the sunscreen or charging cord. It seems like it is the most frequently used item I end up forgetting when packing for the weekend as I am using those items up till the last minute. I often pack several days before needing to leave thinking this will help but then forget what I have already packed. Having this list makes it so much easier and less stressful!

I also take advantage of shopping lists that are available online. I don’t know what I would do now without the Walmart app doing all my grocery shopping for me, then all I have to do is pick it up. Before the Walmart app, I would spend an hour mindlessly walking through Walmart trying to find everything on my list, getting sidetracked as something would grab my attention and then heading to the checkout line only to realize I forgot to get milk or cheese. Every time I pick up my items, I think about how much time I am saving in my day by just driving up and never having to get out of my car! This app also helps me remember everything on my list. You can just scan the barcode on the item, and it adds it to your shopping cart. Also, I learned just the other day that when returning a grocery item for an online order you just do it on your phone without even going to the store. Likewise, Sam’s has online curb pick-up and a Scan & Go feature so you skip the check-out line completely. Both apps keep a list of your favorites or most purchased items. Be sure to take advantage of these stores with apps that basically do the shopping for you.

Try different apps. There are so many free options with many services offered, from organization to weight loss, to event apps for things happening around you in your own town…the list goes on and on. So next time you are doodling on your phone, stop in to look at what apps you think would be useful for you. You’re on your phone anyway, use it to be organized. Ask friends and family what favorite apps they are using. Some apps will be useful for your needs and others won’t. If it doesn’t work for you, just delete, and move on. Not every app will be useful for your situation. Now you can take this added time for your business, family or to organize that closet you have been wanting to tackle.

2: Use A Google or Excel Spreadsheet to Organize Information

Digital documents can be so handy when needing to access information quickly. While starting my business, I used Google docs spreadsheets to keep track of all the expenses and when they occurred. I made sure to access this list and update it weekly so I wouldn’t forget any transactions. Being organized will help you to lower stress and anxiety and work with fewer distractions. This will help you develop an easier workflow and help you perform at your best. If you can think of one thing you would like to organize on a spreadsheet but think you don’t have time, just spend 15 minutes first thing in the morning, while your brain is more focused and just start it. I read once that 90% of getting something done is to just start the task. This is SO true. Think about this the next time you start a project and before you know it, you are done.

While taking care of my aging father and his financial paperwork, I made a spreadsheet of his expenses, how they were paid, and when. I did this to make sure if I had to be gone or had to hand this over to another family member, we wouldn’t skip a beat. We had to make sure the electricity wasn’t canceled, and that medical insurance was up-to-date and active. I listed every piece of essential information on my document from log-ins and passwords to account information.

Spreadsheets and documents always ensure a backup plan. If something were to happen to the person in your household that takes care of all the bills, do you have a backup plan, and does someone know where the passwords are and where to find them? Part of this came about when a friend of mine lost her husband suddenly and she had not engaged with the financial part of the home, thinking that that time would never come. Suddenly she was left having to scramble to find information about bills, insurance, credit cards, banking information, and all passwords or documentation needed to have access to these accounts. Make sure you don’t find yourself in this situation. Make a list and keep it in a secure place so people who need the information know where to find it.

3: Keep Your Desk Organized And Free Of Clutter

Keeping an organized workspace isn’t just for show; it can actually improve your productivity and keep you focused on the day’s priorities. Here are a few simple ways to keep your desk organized and increase your productivity. First of all, start with a clean space. Give the surface of your desk a good cleaning and sort everything on your desk. Move supplies you don’t use every day into a desk drawer. Consider storage options. If your desk is the catch-all for office items, you may want to consider getting additional storage. The files you reach for once a week could be put into file cabinets. Extra cables can be placed in a basket on a nearby shelf. Be sure to keep a notebook close by so you can easily write reminders and add items to your to-do list. Having a notebook can help you keep important pieces of information consolidated in one place. I always have colorful post-it notes and once I have completed a task, I love throwing the note in the trash; there’s just something about the physical motion of throwing it away. I’m sure there is some physiological reason for this action.

Having everything in the right place can help reduce the time that you take to complete tasks or transition between different projects, and it can help limit mistakes by keeping everything relevant close by and accessible. Right now as I am working on this blog, my desk is a disaster. I’m usually good about keeping my desk organized and clutter-free, but I can tell I am not being as productive today and the visual clutter distracts me and drives me crazy. My brain gets overloaded and stresses me out. I also noticed that I have not restocked my stamps and I keep going into another room to get stamps. I’ve been telling myself that I don’t use them that often, so I don’t need to keep another stash in my office, but on the way to get the stamps, I get distracted as I walk through the kitchen and maybe decide I need to replenish my water, or I decide I should set some meat to thaw for dinner and then I am completely distracted and now I have to get back to my office and get refocused. Just get the stupid stamps, Tammie!

So, to sum up what we covered today: First of all, we all struggle to keep our lives organizes, so don’t feel like you’re the only one. Remember that social media only posts the pretty stuff and not the disaster in the background. In helping us stay organized, remember to use the apps on your phone. You already have a cell phone in your hand. In fact, you are probably reading this blog from your phone right now. Second, use spreadsheets or other document applications from your computer to help organize information. Think about the things in your life that could benefit from being organized on a spreadsheet for quick access. And lastly, try to make sure your area of work is free from clutter, and everything is easily accessible. Remember, we all have areas for improvement in our lives, but doing nothing won’t get us better. Make each day a little better, one step at a time